The night list: Try organizing your day the night before

Do you start each day considering what you need to do either at work or at home? Does planning your day make you feel overwhelmed with tasks? Does looking at that long to-do list first thing in the morning make you feel tired before you even get started?

Try organizing your day the night before.

You will likely feel more relaxed because you have completed some things during the day, so considering the jobs to come may feel less daunting. And when you get up, the decisions have already been made.

Do you have trouble getting a workout done first thing in the morning or later in the day? Do you find yourself dithering over what to do or when to work out? Decide the night before and prepare for it.

Check the weather. Do you need to choose one exercise over another because of the weather? Do you need to dress in a particular way to stay cool, warm or dry? Lay out or pack your clothes the night before. Prepare your equipment.

I tend to check the weekly forecast to decide which days I can go kayaking or biking. I can load my kayak in a matter of minutes, but it makes it feel so much easier if it’s already on the truck when I get up in the morning. It makes the most of the early hours as well. I enjoy the lack of crowds and the cool weather available in the morning on the lake.

Decide when you will do things. Even if you can’t put an exact hour to something, choose a part of the day. Put the things you want to get done by lunch at the top of the list. Then list things for the afternoon or evening.

If you need to coordinate tasks with other people, you can agree the evening before so half the morning isn’t spent deciding what to do. This is particularly important if catching the early hours of the day plays into your plan.

My sons and I generally have a brief conversation each evening to make the next day run more smoothly. Although we each have our regular farm chores, some things need multiple people. By discussing it ahead of time, we can move more effectively.

The same idea goes if people need to share equipment or vehicles. Otherwise, we can find ourselves waiting for what we need to complete a job.

Make a note of what you plan to make for dinner. If you need to move things from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw, evening is the perfect time. It’s much easier to check supplies on hand ahead of time so when you are in the thick of the day, you can just make the meal and eat it.

You may have to play around with the system for a while. Maybe a list or app on your device works best for you. Maybe you need the time it takes to write things on paper to sort out your thoughts. Maybe you need to post your list where you can see it or maybe where you can carry it with you.

Give yourself a goal. Write a list each night for a month. At the end of the month, evaluate what has worked. Tweak things as needed.

If you find you are getting more things done or have done more things smoothly, keep preparing your night list.

You may find you sleep better knowing you have already got the day to come sorted out and prepared. You won’t lie in bed thinking about what you have to do or worrying you will forget something.

Happy list making and sweet dreams.